Combination-lock.



W. H. TAYLOR.

UOMBINATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1913.

Patented Apr. 14, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1H m! l r Mil WITNESSES COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH C0.,wAsHlNaTON, n. :4

WITNESSES W. H. TAYLOR.

COMBINATION LOCK.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE'L 1913.

Patented Apr. 14, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. H. TAYLOR. COMBINATION LOOK.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 7, 1913.

1,092,874,, Patented Apr. 14, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0. WASHINGTON. D cv W. H. TAYLOR.

COMBINATION LOOK.

APPLIOATION FILED mm: 7, 1913.

1,092,874. Patented Apr. 14, 1914. I

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

M I jINVENTOR COLUMBIA PLANOHRAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

FIQ.

WARREN H. TAYLOR, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE YALE &

TOWNE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF

STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VARREN H. Tensor, of Stamford, in the county of Fairlield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination-Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in combination locks, one object of which is to provide improved means for disconnecting and connecting the tumbler sections whereby the combination may be changed without separating said sections, and without removing the tumblers from the lock case.

A further object is to provide means whereby the gears and cams which are connected with the tumblers, may be free to turn while the outer disks of the tumblers are held stationary, thus permitting the combination on which the lock is set, to be changed.

A further object is to provide improved means for detachably securing the rear face plate of the lock to the case and for obstructing the key way to the tumblers.

WVith these and other objects in view my invention consists in the parts and combination of parts and in the details of construction as will be more fully explained and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in section through the lock case, the bolt and its actuating mechanism being in elevation. Fig. 2 is a similar view with thetumblers in position for the removal of the rear plate of the lock case and also showing the bearing for the fence in section. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the lock, the rear plate being removed; the bolt projected, and the fence locked by the lever on the cover plate. Fig. t is a similar view showing the bolt retracted, and the fence released. Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of one of the tumblers the top face of the outer disk being removed. Fig. 6 is a view in section of one of the tumblers taken through the pivots 11 shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view of the key for actuating the eccentric 15. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are views of a modification of the means for locking the cover plate to the case. Fig. 11 is a view in section of a lock Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 7, 1913.

Patented Apr. 1 1, 191 1. Serial No. 772,409.

in which the spindle shaft is at the rear of the lock, and Fig. 12 is a view showing the levers, each operated by its own cam.

1 represents the lock case the front face of which is recessed on its outer side for the reception of the meshing gear wheels 2 and 3 the former of which is fixed to the dial spindle 4, and the latter to the shaft 5 carr ing the bearing or sleeve 6 which is a part of the fence. As the two gears 2 and 3 are always in mesh, it follows that when the spindle 4 is rotated, the shaft 5 carrying the fence 7 will be rotated in the opposite direction. The spindle 45' and shaft 5 pass through the front plate of the lock case, and the former carries a series of tumblers 8 and the cam 9. Each tumbler is disk shaped and is composed of an inner disk 8 and an outer disk 8 These disks are loosely mounted on a sleeve l fixed to or integral with the front plate of the lock case, and are rotated. by the cam 9 and by the next adjacent tumbler in sequence starting from the cam, in the well known manner.

The inner disk 8 ofeach tumbler is serrated on its periphery, and each outer disk 8 is provided with a central opening of a size sufficient to receive the inner disk so that when the two disk or tumbler sections are assembled and locked together they form in effect a single disk structure with a cen' tral opening to receive the sleeve P on which the several tumblers are mounted to rotate. The outer section 8 of each disk is hollowed out, and carries two locking levers 10, each of which is fulcrumed at 11. Each lever carries or engages at its inner edge near one free end, a dog 12 having a loose or pivotal connection 13 with its lever, and each lever is acted upon by a spring 141 which normally tends to hold the dog out of contact with the serrated periphery of the inner disk 8. The dogs project through the inner wall of the outer disk of the tumbler, and are of length suflicient to engage a plurality of serrations or teeth 011 the inner section 8, and as they are pivoted to the levers 10, they are free to adjust themselves to the periphery of the inner disk. Located between the opposite free ends of the levers 10 is the cam 15, one for each tumbler, the cams being so constructed that when in one position the springs 1 1 are free to force the adjacent ends of the levers outwardly thus carrying the dogs 12 out of the contact with the serrated face of the inner disk 8 of the tumbler, and when turned 90, turn the levers in a direction to force the dogs into contact with the periphery of the inner disk.

Each tumbler has a cam 15 and key opening 15 through the cam so that when the openings are in line with each other and in alinement with the key opening in the rear plate of the case, the entire series of rockers or pivoted dogs 12, may be disengaged from their respective inner disks thus leaving the latter free to be turned for changing the combination, which may then be done in the usual and well known manner.

Heretofore levers have been used for locking the two disks together, but such devices have proved unsatisfactory in use, for the reason that the levers cannot in actual practice be made sufficiently accurate to take hold of the inner disk at more than one point, and it frequently happens that one lever will engage the inner disk before the other makes any contact whatsoever therewith, so that one lever is useless.

By applicants improvement he overcomes all the objections to integral locking levers having direct engagement with the inner disk, by providing the lever with rocking dogs, which, when the levers are moved by the cam, automatically adjust themselves to the serrated edge of the inner disk, and bear upon the latter throughout the entire length of their locking faces, and with such construction there is no necessity for extreme or delicate adjustment of the parts.

While I have referred in the last two paragraphs of two locking levers, it should be understood that two levers are not essential, as heretofore locks have been made with only one lever and with my rocking dog it is probable that, with one lever a sufficiently firm engagement between the two parts of the tumbler would be had. It is obvious, however, that a tumbler made with either one or more levers would be within the purview of my invention.

The tumblers are all mounted to turn on the sleeve 1 and the cam 9 is secured to spindle shaft 1, so that the cam always rotates with the spindle and imparts movement to the tumblers in the well known manner.

The fence 7, is as before explained mounted on the shaft 5 connected with gear wheel 3. The sleeve 6 of this fence 7 is a friction sleeve, in that it is provided with means which make contact with the shaft, with sufiicient friction to cause the fence to move, and tend to move in the direction of rotation of said shaft, so that after the tumblers have been turned to bring the notches therein into alinement, for the entrance of the arm 7 of the fence 7, the rotation of the gear in a direction to retract the bolt will cause the arm 7* of the fence to enter the notches in the tumbler and cam so as to be actuated by the latter to retract the bolt.

The fence 7 is provided with an arm 7 adapted to rest within a slot 16 in the bolt 16, and with a second arm 7 adapted to enter the notches 8 in peripheries of the tumblers, and also the notch 9 in the cam 9. When the spindle shaft 1 is turned to the right, as in setting up the tumblers for unlocking, the fence will be turned so that its arm 7 will be carried out of contact with the peripheries of the tumbler and cam, the slot 16 in the bolt, being of such size and shape to permit of such movement. Upon reversing the direction of movement of the spindle shaft 4t, the fence will be turned so as to bring its arm 7 over into contact with the peripheries of the cam and tumblers, and as the notch 9 in cam comes into alinement with the notches in the tumblers the friction between the shaft and hub of the fence carries the arm 7 of the fence into said notches, and the continued movement of the cam 9, acting on the arm 7 of the fence turns the fence in a direction to retract the bolt 16.

The bolt 16 is sliclingly mounted against the inner face of the front face of the lock casing, and is slotted for the passage of the spindle 1 and shaft 5, and is as previously explained retracted and projected through the action of the cam and fence.

The cover plate 17 is removably secured to the lock case by the notched lugs 18 and 19, engaging respectively the bridge 20 which latter supports the rear end of the shaft 5, and the lug 21 integral with the rear end of the case 1. The tumblers 8 are located in close proximity to lug 21, and the lug 19 on the cover plate 17. projects forwardly into the plane of one or more of the tumblers. The lugs on the cover are hook-shaped to take under the bridge 20, and also under lug 21 on the look case, and the cover is therefore necessarily disconnect ed from the case by a sliding movement sufliciently to carry the hooks on the lugs from under their engaging elements on the lock case. This sliding movement is, in the present instance, in a direction of the length of the lock case, and as the tumblers are in the path of lug 19at the end of the cover, it follows that the cover can be removed only after the bolt has been project ed, and after the tumblers have been set up so that the notches therein aline with the lug 19, thus permitting the cover plate to he slid endwise until its lug 19 clears lug 21 thus freeing the cover plate and permitting it to be removed. This cover plate is also provided with a key-hole 20, through which the key 21 is passed foractuating the eccentrics 15, which as previously explained, actuate the rocker dog levers10. V

To change the combination, the door is opened and the bolt 16 projected. When the bolt is projected, the key slots 15 in the tumblers will be in alinement with the key hole in the cover plate, and by inserting the key 21 and giving it a quarter turn, the rocker dogs 12 carried by the levers 10 will be disengaged from the disk members 8 thus leaving the latter free to be turned by the dial spindle to set up the tumblers on any desired combination.

It is desirable to hold the fence, which is balanced by its arms 7 a and 7*,against movement while the dial spindle and cam secured to the latter, are being turned, while changing the comblnation, and this I accomplish by the plate or lever 22 pivoted to the inner face plate of the lock case. This plate is normally held by spring 22 with one end adjacent the key hole 20 in the cover plate, so' that when the key 21 is inserted and turned, the fin 21*; on the key, will engage said end of the plate and shift the latter so as to bring its opposite end over against the finger 7 of thefence 7 and thus hold the arm 7 of the latter against movement toward the notch 9 in cam 9.

In Figs. 8-9and 10, I have illustrated a modified arrangement of parts for locking the cover plate to the look. In the modification, the plate 23 is pivoted at 23 to the inner face of the cover plate and is provided at its forward end with a tongue 23 adapted to bear against the bridge 20 and prevent the endwise movement of cover plate, which as previously explained is essential in order to disconnect the lugs on the cover plate from the bridge 20 and rear lug on the lock case. The plate 23 is actuated by the key lock 26, secured in the cover plate of the casing and provided with a cam 26, by means of which the plate 23 may be turned so as to bring the ton ue 23 thereon into alinement with the slot 25 in the bridge 20, and thus permit the cover plate to be slid longitudinally to disengage the lugs on the cover plate from the bridge and also from the rear lug on the casing. This plate 23 is also provlded with a key hole 23 which, when in its unlocking position,

or in a position to permit the cover plate to be removed, alines with the key hole in the cover plate and permits the key to be in troduced and turned for disconnecting the tumbler sections, but which, when the cover plate is locked, is out of alinement with said key hole in the cover plate and thus prevents the insertion of the key, hence with this modification, in order to change the combination it is necessary to have the key for lock 26, and also the key for the eccentrics 15. This plate 23 is also provided with a pin 23, which, when the plate is turned (as in Fig. 8) to a position to release the cover plate, engages the finger 7 on the fence 7 and holds the arm 7' of the latter out of contact with the tumblers 8 and cam 9.

Instead of connecting the cam directly with the dial spindle as in Figs. 1 to 10, which latter construction is known as inside shaft lock, or direct acting spindle, the dial spindle may be mounted in an end of the front face of the lock casing projecting at the rear end of the latter as shown in Fig. 11. m In order to change the combination, the cam and connected gears must be free to turn while the outer disks of the tumblers must be held stationary. This is made possible by having the operating cam on one side of the nest of tumblers and the gears on the opposite side. In the present instance the gears are in recesses in the outer side of the lock case so that the wall of the lock case is between the gears and the tumblers. 35 The cam 9, being of smaller diameter than the tumblers permits the key to engage the eccentrics in the tumblers without interfering with the cam, and by locating the gears outside the lock case permits the key to pass through all the tumblers and hear at its end on the lock case, without interfering with any moving parts.

lVhile the placing of the gears on the outside of the lock case is a convenient and desirable construction, it is not essential that they should be so placed, nor is it essential that the end of the key should have bearing on the lock case, as it would be feasible to locate the gears within the case and provide other means for supporting the key. Again, instead of having both levers actuated by a single cam, each lever may be actuated by a separate cam as shown in Fig. 12, and it is also evident that instead of locating the levers in the outer section of the disks they may be attached to the inner members.

lVhile I have referred to the inner disks 8 of the tumbler as having serrated peripheries, this is not by any means essential, as the rocking dogs have a bearing sufficiently extensive on the inner disks to hold them by friction alone, but I prefer to serrate the disks and have so shown them in the drawings.

It is evident that many slight changes might be resorted to in the relative arrangement of parts shown and described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I would have it understood that I do not wish to confine myself to the exact arrangement of parts shown and described, but,-

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In a combination lock, the combination of a dial, gears actuated by the same, a spindle connected to one of said gears, a pivoted fence having connection with the &

other gear, a cam secured to said spindle, and a series of disk tumblers intermediate the cam and gear and rotated by the former.

2. In a combination lock, the combination with a dial spindle, a gear actuated by the latter and a cam secured to said spindle, a series of tumblers located intermediate the gear and cam with their axes concentric with the dial spindle, a bolt and a pivoted fence coacting with the cam and tumblers to actuate the bolt.

3. In a combination lock, the combination of a bolt, meshing gears, a spindle rigid with one gear, a shaft rigid with the other gear, a fence having two arms, one engaging the bolt and the other adapted to be engaged by a cam, the said fence being mounted on the shaft and having frictional engagement therewith, a cam. secured rigidly to the spindle so as to rotate therewith, and a series of tumblers loosely surrounding the spindle intermediate the cam and gear and notched for the entrance of one arm of the fence.

4. In a combination lock, the combination with a spindle, two meshing gears, one of which is secured to said spindle, a shaft secured to the other gear, a fence on said shaft, friction means for causing said fence to turn with the shaft, a cam secured to the spindle and a series of two part disk tumblers embracing said spindle intermediate the cam and gear, each tumbler having means whereby the two parts thereof may be disconnected so as to permit the central member thereof to be turned to change the combination.

5. In a combination lock, the combination of a spindle, a shaft, meshing gears for actuating the spindle and shaft, a cam secured to the spindle, a series of disk tumblers embracing the spindle intermediate the cam and the spindle gear, a bolt and a balanced fence on the shaft, each of said tumblers being composed of two disk members, one within the other, each outer member having means for looking it to its inner member and each outer member having a key hole for the passage of a key for actuating the means which look the members of the tumblers together, the construction being such that the inner members of the tumblers may be rotated while the outer members are held by the key.

6. A tumbler for combination locks comprising inner and outer disk members, two rocking levers in the outer disk member, a rocking dog carried by each lever and adapted to engage the periphery of the inner member for locking it to the outer member, and an eccentric engaging both levers for actuating them simultaneously, the said eccentric being actuated by a key.

7. A tumbler for combination locks comprising inner and outer disk members, two spring pressed levers within the outer member, a rocking dog carried by each lever and adapted to engage the periphery of the inner member for locking it to the outer member, and a key actuated eccentric adapted to move said levers in opposition to their springs for forcing the dogs into contact with the inner member.

8. In a combination lock, the combination of a lock case having aremovable cover plate, a cam,-a series of two part tumblers, each tumbler having a slot, means within each tumbler for locking the parts together, a key actuated device in. each for actuating said locking means, a bolt, a shaftrotating with the dial, a fence on said shaft and hav ing friction contact with same, so that the fence will be moved into engagement with the slots in the tumblers, and means pivoted to the cover plate of the case and adapted to be moved to hold the fence away from the cam and tumblers while the inner sections of the tumblers are being shifted to change the'combination of the lock.

9. In a combination lock, the combination of a lock case having a removable cover plate, a dial, and acam and aseries of tumblers actuated by the dial, each tumbler having a slot, a shaft also actuated by the dial, a fence frictionally actuated by said shaft so that the fence will be brought into engagement with the slots in the tumblers, and a lever pivoted to the cover plate of the case and adapted to be moved to hold the fence away from. the cam and tumblers.

10. In a combination lock, the combination of a lock case having a removable cover plate, a dial and a cam, a series of two part tumblers actuated by the dial, each tumbler having a slot, and each also having means actuated by a key whereby its sections may be disconnected and connected, a shaft actuated by the dial, a fence frictionally actuated by said shaft so that the fence will be brought into engagement with the slots in the tumblers, and a lever pivoted to the cover-plate and adapted to be moved by the key which connects and disconnects the tumbler sections, into contact with the fence for holding the latter out of contact with the cam and tumblers.

11. In a combination lock, the combination of a case, a removable cover plate provided with a key hole, a lever pivoted to the latter and provided with a key hole normally out of line with the key hole in the cover plate, a series of tumblers each made of two parts and provided with key actuated meansfor disconnecting the two parts whereby the inner parts may be shifted to change the combination, and means for positively shifting said lever to bring the key hole therein into line with the key hole in the cover plate irrespective of the position of the tumblers.

12. In a combination lock, the combinawhich it may be removed by tion of a lock case, a removable cover plate for same, means on the cover plate and engaging means on the case for holding the cover plate on to the lock case, and from sliding movement, a locking device carried by and mounted to rotate on the cover plate, a key mechanism for actuating said locking device, so that in one position the cover plate will be held by said locking device so that it cannot be slid for removal, while in the other position the locking device is moved to permit the sliding of said cover plate.

13. In a combination lock, the combination of a lock casing having a removable cover plate, a cam, a series of tumblers each having a slot, a shaft, a fence frictionally actuated by said shaft, means for rotating the cam and tumblers, and a lever pivoted to the inner face of the cover plate and adapted ment, and when moved to its other position 30.

to hold the fence out of contact with the cam and tumblers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WARREN H. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM P. MosELY, SCHUYLER MERRITT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

tumblers, means 25 

